This is the first board of the new AI series. Let's see whether Artificial
Intelligence is incarnated in this ASUSTeK's model indeed. Accessories:
- Package of a new, effective and austere design;
- Documentation:
user manual in English, and brief installation manual in 12 languages;
-
Cables: FDD, 2 SATA, 2 ATA66/100/133;
- Stickers for keyboard for
Instant CD function;
-
Bracket for the rear computer panel;
- 2 CDs containing:
- drivers;
- DirectX 8.1;
- Adobe Acrobat Reader;
-
3Deep;
- PC-cillin 2002;
- ASUS Live Update;
-
ASUS HotKey;
- ASUS Logo;
- ASUS PCProbe;
-
ASUS Screensaver;
- Winbond Voice Editor;
- InterVideo
WinDVD;
- InterVideo WinRip;
- InterVideo WinDVD Creator;
-
InterVideo WinProducer.
The layout is not that bad, except maybe the audio-ins which are placed in
front of the PCI, and connectors along the left side. It can be difficult to reach
some jumpers when the board is already installed. Their functions are shown on
the textolite. The 2-channel switching voltage regulator incorporates
7 capacitors of 1500 uF and 3 of 1200 uF. Also, there are voltage regulators for
the AGP and memory buses. Integrated controllers:
audio controller based on the chipset and Analog Devices AD1985 AC'97 codec; 5.1
audio system supported, front audio inputs/outputs and SPDIF connectors provided
-
network controller based on 3COM Marvell 940-MV00 chip supporting 10BaseT/100BaseTX/1000BaseT
(Gigabit Ethernet);
-
SATA/ATA133 RAID controller based on Promise PDC20378 chip supporting RAID 0 and
1;
- FireWire bus controller based on VIA VT6307 chip with 2 ports
supported.
Technologies: - AI Audio (automatic
recognition of devices attached to audio connectors);
- AI Overclocking
(fast overclocking (up to 33%) and auto selection of optimal parameters);
-
AI Net (1Gbit network controller with VCT utility (Virtual Cable Tester) for error
detection; network cable provided;
- AI BIOS (CrashFree BIOS 2, ASUS
Multi-Language BIOS, ASUS POST Reporter, ASUS MyLogo 2, ASUS Q-Fan, ASUS EZ Flash,
ASUS Instant Music (for audio CD playback without OS booting)).
+5
V supplied in the StandBy mode is indicated with the green LED. Non-unsoldered
connectors: none. System monitoring is supported by Winbond W83627THF-A
chip. It controls: - processor voltage, +3.3, +5 and +12 V;
-
speed of 3 fans;
- temperatures of the processor (built-in sensor),
the board (built-in sensor) and an external sensor connected to the board.
There
are 3 connectors for adjustable connection of fans. Brief board's
characteristics: memory slots - 4 DDR SDRAM; expansion slots - AGP/ 5 PCI;
I/O ports - 2 COM/ LPT/ 2 PS/2/ 8 USB 2.0 / 2 FireWire; dimensions - 305x245 mm.
Settings:
| jumpers and switches |
Jumper to clear up the CMOS |
|
| Jumper for starting up computer with a PS/2 keyboard |
|
| Jumper for starting up computer with USB keyboard/mouse |
|
| BIOS based on AMI v2.51 |
Setup of memory timings |
+ |
Performance Acceleration Mode, CAS Latency, RAS to CAS Delay,
RAS Precharge, Burst Length, Idle Timer, Refresh Rate |
| Setup of memory frequency |
+ |
DDR266 at FSB 100 MHz; DDR266 and DDR333 at FSB 133 MHz; DDR266,
DDR320 and DDR400 at FSB 200 MHz |
| Setup of AGP bus |
- |
|
| Setup of PCI bus |
- |
|
| Changeable scaler of AGP and PCI buses |
+ |
AGP(PCIx2) = Auto, 66,66, 72,73 and 80 MHz |
| Manual assignment of interrupts |
- |
|
| Changeable FSB frequency |
+ |
100-300 MHz in 1MHz steps |
| Changeable CPU multiplier |
+ |
x8-x32 |
| Changeable core voltage |
+ |
1.475-1.6 V in 0.0125V steps |
| Changeable memory voltage |
+ |
Auto, 2.55, 2.65, 2.75, 2.85 V |
| Changeable chipset voltage |
- |
|
| Changeable AGP bus voltage |
+ |
Auto, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8 V |
The first time when we tested it we used the BIOS
1002 beta 021. In the second time it was BIOS 1004, the latest version available
at the moment of tests. The new firmware version raised the performance by 20%
in some tests. I'm looking forward to see newer versions. :) It's clear
that the hi-end board has perfect functionality and a rich set of accessories.
Also, I must say that this board justifies its name thanks to some really intellectual
capabilities :). Test results:
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